BRATTLEBORO — A Bellows Falls man was charged with firing seven shots into the ground during a dispute over the weekend in Bellows Falls involving three women.

Shadow Smith, 37, pleaded innocent Tuesday to a charge of reckless endangerment. Judge Karen Carroll failed to find probable cause to support a second, more serious charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Smith was also arrested as he came to Brattleboro criminal court Tuesday for carrying a pocket knife, for violating earlier conditions of release that he not carry a weapon. He was released on additional conditions, a court officer said.

According to police affidavits filed in court, a dispatcher at the Bellows Falls Police Department heard several shots in the area of Tuttle Street late Feb. 15. The street is near the police station.

Police responded to the scene at 14 Tuttle St. and arrested Smith and confiscated a Glock 9 mm handgun.

Smith told police that he fired his handgun into the ground in an attempt to break up a fight involving Dani-Rae Hutchins, 23, Kalenda Dixon, 37, and Alicia Monty, 21, all of Bellows Falls. Monty told police she was just trying to break up a fight between Hutchins and Dixon. Police said that Dixon, Monty and Westyn Wright, 33, had gone to confront Hutchins about a fight she had earlier with Dixon’s daughter.

Dixon, Wright and Monty all had been drinking and were over the legal limit for driving, police said. Dixon was .111, Wright, .095, and Monty a .135, according to court records. Hutchins was tested and shown not to be drinking.

Before police arrived, Wright tackled Smith and at that point Smith pulled the gun out of his pocket and fired several shots into the ground at his feet, police said.

Wright told police he felt threatened by Smith and his gun, and he also told police that his life was in danger. Smith told police that he also felt his life was in danger from Wright.

“Wright said that he stood in front of Smith due to the fact that Smith was aiming the gun towards his fiance,” Police Officer Mario Checchi wrote.

“Smith said he was honestly scared and that he did not know what to do,” Checchi wrote. “Smith said that he did not have anything to drink,” the officer added, and Smith said he hoped the sound of the gunshots would attract police attention, since the station was nearby.

Hutchins told police she had been assaulted by Dixon and Wright, and said “what do you expect from around this house” when police mentioned the gunshots.